Anger management offered at UK schools

BIRMINGHAM, England, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Some British parents and educators are questioning whether elementary school children will benefit from anger management classes being offered at nine schools.

The program in Birmingham, funded by the regional police department in response to growing rowdiness among youngsters, has stirred up a debate among parents and educators over the value of such training for kids as young as 9, the Daily Mail reported Sunday.

"I think it's a sad state of affairs if kids are so badly behaved they need to be given anger management sessions at school," parent Joanne Potter told the newspaper. "I can't believe that at the age of 9 they will take it all in either -- it's too young."

Potter said she had taught her children right from wrong and how to handle disputes in a civilized manner; however some teachers say many families let their kids run wild.

"If youngsters are given a good grounding from parents and teachers this shouldn't be necessary," said Nick Seaton, chairman for the Campaign for Real Education. "It shows that behavior of young people has become very serious when somebody thinks that 9-year-olds need anger management style lessons."